JC MSFL DIVISION TWO
CATFORD & BROMLEY MACCABI 1 BRADY MACCABI B 5
Brady B took another step towards back-to-back titles by crushing the Cats at Norseman FC to notch up their 14th league win of the season.
Josh Dagul's stepped that bit closer to another championship after an emphatic 5-1 win over Catford & Bromley on a sunny Sunday morning in Edmonton.
Goals from Daniel Harrod, Reiss Mogilner (2) and Daniel Hildebrand (2) saw off Catford and despite a late consolation goal, Brady's tiki-taka football proved to be just too much for a brave Catford side.
Although the game started slowly, with neither side producing an effort worthy of reporting, Brady slowly but surely got a foothold in the game, and started playing with the swagger that has seen the men in red score over 70 goals this season.
The Brady midfield three of Daniel Harrod, Sam Monjack and Dan Goldstone dominated the midfield from the off and Harrod was rewarded when a low drive from 25 yards flew past the keeper and deservedly put Brady 1-0 up.
Brady had other chances to extend their lead in the first half; Mogilner was denied by the Catford goalkeeper and then the post soon after, whilst James Joseph was also denied by the woodwork before the first 45 was out, but Catford held on, leaving Brady with a slender lead at the interval.
However, Dagul's belief in the beautiful game, instilled in training, paid off with aplomb in the second half. In a period of five minutes of madness, Brady added three goals to their tally. Great one-touch football between Brady's attacking players saw Mogilner slide through Hildebrand, for the striker to round the keeper for a simple tap-in, doubling Brady's lead.
Moments later, and the roles were reversed; an acute one-two between Mogilner and Hildebrand was converted powerfully by Mogilner, crushing hopes of a Catford recovery.
Brady were not finished there, and when the Catford goalkeeper failed to clear the ball effectively, Mogilner was on hand to delightfully chip over the stranded goalkeeper to make it 4-0.
Hildebrand completed a wonderful double to put the icing on the cake for Brady, when marauding full-back Ranny Miquel burst forward down the left, before firing across goal for his brother to grab his second of the game.
Scoring the fifth saw Brady take their foot off the pedal and they were punished for this after a splendid half volley from the edge of the area from Oli Hitman gave Catford what turned out to be nothing more than a stylish consolation goal.
Brady were simply too good for the Catford team and showed why they are the champions elect.
A delighted Josh Dagul told JC Sport: "It was exactly the performance I demanded from my players. Last week was simply not good enough and the boys knew that, but it acted as a kick up the backside to get us over the finish line, so I was delighted with the response they gave today.
"Catford put in a brave performance but I have to give credit to my boys.The midfield three of Daniel Harrod, Sam Monjack and Dan Goldstone were brilliant today - controlling the game from the off.
"I'm delighted we weren't complacent and finished the game off with five brilliant minutes of football. The team knows we need to take this kind of performance into next week to secure the back to back titles we are craving and I am demanding.
"Although promotion is not mathematically guaranteed, this win leaves SPEC FC needing to overturn a 36-goal swing in three games, so I'm absolutely chuffed with the lads for what I think I can safely say is another promotion."
Catford captain Adam Luria told JC Sport: "We held Brady well for the first hour, only being one down to a speculative shot from distance that squirmed under Guy Ben Aroya.
"In the second half we pinned Brady back for 15 minutes, keeping them on their own half. But after an hour Brady made two changes and with us down to the bare 11, when their second went in the fresh legs on their side showed and we conceded a few more in quick succession.
"We got a consolation late on through a great strike from Oli Hitman following a long throw, but by then it was already too late.
"The 11 that were out there gave everything today but as ever it's the players who don't show up who let everyone else down."
MOM: Daniel Harrod - dictated the game from the middle of the park. Despite the inhibiting pitch, DH showed why Dagul paid big bucks to bring him in from Faithfold
